The Knights allowed six runs in the first two innings but responded with a five-run inning of their own in the fourth.

With two runners on base and two outs, the Knights got five hits in a row to tie the score at six. Seth Spatacean drove in a run with a single and Kyle Ashworth followed with a run-scoring single.

With runners on first and second, Sean Higgins hit a bases-clearing double to cut the lead to one. On the ensuing pitch, Chad Castillo drove in Higgins with a double to finish the rally.

“I told the guys that we need to hit as a team and that one guy hitting a home run isn’t going to win games, we need to string hits together,” Foothill coach Vince Brown said. “The approach was really good and I was really pleased with that.”

Esperanza (14-6, 1-1) regained the lead in its half of the fourth inning. Tony Accordino hit a double and was driven in by a single from CJ Larsen to put the Aztecs in front 7-6.

Foothill (15-6, 1-1) scored the eventual game-winning runs in the sixth inning. Spatacean led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second base. Higgins hit a run-scoring double to tie the score. After a Castillo single, Griffin Selby had a run-scoring single to give the Knights an 8-7 lead.

Brett Awerkamp pitched the final two innings for Foothill. The 6-foot-4 junior allowed just one base runner and struck out three.

“We needed a win like this,” Brown said. “I explained to the team that four years ago we were in the same situation on this same field, down seven runs. And we stayed after it and got ourselves a win that really propelled us through league and the playoffs.”

All four teams in the Crestview League have 1-1 records in league play and all four teams are in the Register’s county top 20. Foothill will play at El Modena on Friday and Esperanza will be at El Dorado.